Mazda has reaffirmed its desire to build a new sports car based on the gorgeous Iconic SP concept. It even wants to slap a rotary engine into it, creating a true successor to the RX-7 and RX-8. Things are ready to go, but the only thing holding Mazda back is the “business case”. In other words, it must sense that enthusiasts clamoring for the return of the RX will put their money where their mouths are.
Encouraged by the unanimously positive response to the show car the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro reinstated the rotary engine development team last year. He then gave them the unenviable task of making it compliant with the US and Europe’s 2026 emissions. standards.
“I decided to reopen the rotary engine development group and I gave a mission to them,” Moro recently told Road & Track, “that was to comply with stringent emissions regulations like LEV IV in the U.S., and Euro 7. We know that rotary is not good at complying with emissions, that was the reason we decided to discontinue it in 2012. That is a very high hurdle they have to overcome, but in the last year the progress has been very encouraging.”
Mazda chief technical officer Ryuichi Umeshita added, “Where we are is developing the technology to pass the US regulation, and we have a very good forecast now, so we are almost ready.”
Last year Mazda design head Masashi Nakayama stated that “This concept is not just one of those empty show cars” and that “it’s been designed with real intent to turn it into a production model in the not-so-distant future.” He reiterated that to R&T, saying, “We made sure that [the Iconic SP] will be feasible for production.”
Umeshita also told the magazine that while nothing had been decided yet, the car could be developed as a super sports car, in which case there may not be a manual transmission option.
Like Nissan, Mazda could adopt a two-pronged sports car strategy. A more affordable option like the Miata (or Z) would give owners the option to row their own, but an all-out speed scalpel would use a self-shifting gearbox like the GT-R. To us, this means Mazda is still deciding whether to collab with Toyota to co-create an inline-six-powered super sports.
Umeshita seemed confident that Mazda could overcome any technical obstacles. The marketplace is a different story, however. “The next challenge is… now you can support us in making a good business case. But technically, we are almost ready—if we see a good business case, we’re ready to go,” he said.
In other words, they have to be convinced that buyers will fork over real money to buy one. Notoriously stingy enthusiasts will have to do some real work to win Mazda’s trust, so no more of this “I’ll wait and get a used one,” nonsense. Mazda clearly wants to build it. We just have to buy it.
Images courtesy of Mazda.
Is it possible to pre-order the Tesla or Pagani model without showing anything (hello Horacio Pagani!)?
It would be a financial commitment, like Tesla did to finance itself at zero interest rates to complete development. Nothing better than “put your money where your mouth is.”
Not going to happen.
The automotive graveyard is full of “I want it”, and when they came out…. pfft.
Pontiac GTO. Pontiac/Saturn Solstice/Sky. Ford Thunderbird. Even Toyota is killing the Supra, and when was the last time you saw a Nissan Z in the wild? A few years ago, and I live in SoCal.
Yeah, easy to say I want one, but when you’re asked to put your money where your mouth is, you’ll get some SUV or some other boring electric car.
… Still, the same, same (not old) story may not be given with this article, but as if I may have read this that cautiously as well, I think as given that Mazda is one car manufacturer that may appear to look struggling in the face of these circumstances – Trump tarrifs (means the backwards shift towards expanding business in Europe especially for Japanese carmakers unless when the latter may keep dealing with automotive companies based in the former), expansion and success of South Korea’s “soft power” (Korean wave / K-pop / K-dramas) worldwide, shift towards crossovers / SUVs and among others – since the Mazda name is (even not new) essentially not known (but a stranger) in developing SUVs / crossovers, just like when it (Mazda) was part of Ford meant that Blue Oval (nickname of Ford) had did more efforts in sales and manufacturing than Mazda. (For examples, the penultimate generation Fiesta whose bodyshell was modded for the final model, second-generation Focus, first-generation Escape aka Maverick in Europe and China and the non-North American market Ranger sold more than their Mazda counterparts, but now, with all of these products except Ranger and Maverick are no longer in production.)
Likewise, when Mazda had traded Ford with Toyota as a partner in 2017 (the same thing happened to Subaru, Suzuki, Isuzu and not Mitsubishi Motors since five of these were formerly part of the US big three carmakers), therefore it maybe clear to think that with the ghosts of the 2009-2010 product recalls and others may have been haunting Toyota and the compatriots that acquired by it per stakes (including Daihatsu and Hino), so as given that Toyota already has a strategic partnership with Stellantis (formerly PSA Peugeot Citroen later PSA Group and Fiat SpA later Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) which is exclusive to the European market – as well as the fact that Stellantis has had links too with other Japanese automakers (Toyota’s partnership with Stellantis may have dated back when Innocenti formed a deal with Daihatsu until the former was sold to Fiat), probably had Toyota already bought shares in Stellantis (and even Renault) then in turn Toyota may sell off Hino Motors (which had links with Renault before Nissan), Daihatsu, Subaru, Mazda, Suzuki and Isuzu to Stellantis in order for the latter (PSA / FCA) not only to expand its (Stellantis) presence in the Asia-Pacific (especially with Stellantis already heading itself on the verge of being a national treasure in Malaysia) but also negotiations between Stellantis and Renault Group (which has Nissan / Datsun and Mitsubishi in it) that were stalled several times (2019 when FCA existed separately with PSA and 2024 when Stellantis already exists) would go back to the table – in that case Stellantis may even use and put Hino, Daihatsu, Nissan / Infinti, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Suzuki and Isuzu (as well as Honda / Acura) out of business in partially in favor of focusing back on capitalizing the Jeep marque… (As well as had Stellantis to use Nissan’s Yokohama headquarters for the same reasons General Motors / GM did when it removed Chevrolet / Chevy in favor of Daewoo, thus making the latter’s HQ as GM’s headquarters for South Korean and Asian operations, and on the other hand, Stellantis may use Hino, Daihatsu, Nissan, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Suzuki, Isuzu and Honda assets not just to talk about Jeep again but also Stellantis may have the opportunity to buy Ford since the latter is no longer present in Japan although Hyundai has a limited presence on Japanese soil while former Mazda ally Kia too is neither available nor selling vehicles in JPN.)
They should produce a “baby” (scaled-down) version of this lovely vehicle – as per the 2000GT and its baby sibling, the Sports 800. A tiny affordable version. Offer both variants side-by-side. Just my opinion.
I would prefer this, but unfortunately, the MX-5 will remain their entry level with no coupe option.
But…. (what was it Honda said? “Dream the Impossible Dream”)
… we can DREAM!! (-:
I really hope they build a brilliant car in the vein of the FD, but the odds are stacked against them. The “suits” and government agencies are pretty much diametrically opposed to the enthusiasts. If they try to meet in the middle, or please the suits, is the likely-hood of it being successful with the enthusiasts enough to make it a viable business case?
We will buy Mazda’s rotary sports car if we can actually afford it
So many ifs on this one. I figure that to cover costs, Mazda would need to sell at least a 100K over its production life. Assuming a life of five years, Mazda would need to sell 20K a year on average. This is certainly doable if they can deliver all the style and performance with no issues. I suspect that they will also offer a hybrid version to cover the development costs so this would lower the actual number of rotary engined versions they would need to sell.
Personally I would love to say “yes I will buy one”, but reality wise it all depends on what the price will be. Currently the top MSRP for a Miata MX-5 is $41K. If they can bring this in at less than $50K then it is a serious consideration. No deal if it is over $60K for me though.
I would like to see the front headlights look a little more aggressive yes it’s a beautiful car I would definitely be interested in buying one of these
if you make it auto only it will fail with enthusiasts.
Even toyota bent the knee and made a manual supra!
Sure. Assuming that the cost and competition will be anywhere around GR86 territory. It’s like that VW Buzz, it’s super cool but they priced it so high, it dwindled any hype it had.
I’m in if there is a somewhat affordable version. Starting a little above where the MX-5 leaves of. $40k to $45k range starting. Also, figure out a manual option and this thing will sell. Engagement is making a comeback and Mazda would be foolish to ignore that.
Pssst…hey Mazda, you hiring for archivists? I’m sure we could find some wisdom in the rear-view mirror if we look hard enough…In all it’s history, outside of the RX-7/8, Mazda used to produce rotary *variants* of most of it’s cars. Buyers of the Familia, Grand Familia, Luce, even the Cosmo had the option to choose an old-fashioned four-pot or a rotary for the exact same chassis. Of course economics dictates a lot in manufacturing, but in my perfect world Mazda would look towards it’s own history and realize they could RE-vive the rotary as a top-shelf engine option for the MX-5 (Maybe call it an RX-5…or Cosmo Sport? Anyone?) and call it a day. No need to develop an entirely new chassis (although it is very pretty), which de-risks the whole project, and it serves a market niche owned entirely by Mazda. Either way I hope we see this thing come to fruition and is supported in the market.
Sure, I’d purchase one tomorrow if it includes the 4 rotor engine. Please bring it to the U.S.
This twin rotor limitation needs to stop here!!